Page 43 of Just Can't Fall for the Enemy

I chuckled despite myself, feeling utterly disarmed and reluctantly charmed. “Why? Did you carry this all the way here by hand? I’m guessing it didn’t fit in your car.”

“You’ll see. Can I, uh, put this thing down somewhere?”

I gestured to the front yard. “I’d tell you to leave it inside, but these are definitely outdoor trees. Besides, it can grow to 180 feet tall, so . . .”

“Good call.” He set it down by the front porch and stood back expectantly. I hadn’t intended to join him outside, but he seemed excited about something, and my curiosity got the better of me. I stepped off the threshold and burst out laughing. “You’re kidding.”

“No, ma’am,” Tanner drawled, gesturing to a pair of saddled horses, one of which was attached to a cart. “I would have been here sooner, but Bessie here decided to drop a pile in someone’s driveway. It was a bit of a challenge getting it cleaned up, but I managed to accomplish the task unarrested and ready to take you for a ride if you’ll allow me.”

I held back a giggle, giving the palomino a pat. “Bessie? These are Joe Stanton’s geldings.”

He shushed me and put a gentle hand on the palomino’s nose. “Don’t judge. He can go by any name he pleases. Right, pal?”

I eyed Tanner and the horses he’d gone to all this trouble to secure, feeling the familiar warmth I’d gotten used to over the past few days. Then I remembered Olivia and her cruel words and even crueler accusations and felt my brain wrestling my heart once again. Did I truly know Tanner? I thought I had, but four days wasn’t long at all.

I took a step back and folded my arms. “I told you not to drive over.”

“I didn’t. I rode.” He unhitched the cart and retrieved the reins, which he’d wrapped around a low tree branch. “You were kind enough to tell me your story. Now I’d like to tell you mine.”

The conflict raged inside. He’d be leaving tomorrow, and telling him no could mean a clean break. But something deep inside urged me on. An old memory surfaced about my parents arguing. They’d spoken in whispers, taking turns to express their concerns and perspectives. I remembered being surprised at their level-headedness at the time. Surely a few minutes to hear Tanner’s side wouldn’t hurt. And Marihadtold me to give him a chance. A real one, which I hadn’t done earlier.

“So Joe let you take his horses just like that?”I asked.

“I persuaded him with a hefty deposit. I guarantee he’s hoping something goes wrong and I never return these beauties. Don’t worry. I fully intend to disappoint him.” He lifted the saddle flap, tightened the cinch, tugged down the stirrups, and held out a hand to me. “Need a leg up?”

“You know more about horses than you let on, cowboy.” I grabbed the pommel instead of his hand, placed my left foot in the stirrup, and swung astride. The stirrups were still a little long, but that wasn’t a big deal.

He laughed and followed my lead, swinging astride “Bessie,” who was actually Bear. A pack bulged behind the saddle. It seemed more surprises lay in my future.

“I may have taken lessons as a kid,” he admitted. “English style, though, not Western.”

I stared at him, suddenly seeing him in a whole new light. “I can’t see you in a pair of breeches and a coat, performing dressage.”

He shook his head, adjusting the reins in his hand. “I preferred jumping. Wanted to be in the Olympics someday, but turns out it isn’t a career for the poor. How about you?”

“It’s been a few years,” I admitted. “I liked barrel racing.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” He grinned. “Well, we may both be a little rusty on a horse, but I decided you’ve shown me around enough. Now there’s somewhere I want to take you. Follow me, little lady.”

I laughed, wondering where he could possibly take me that I hadn’t already been. Then I recalled the past few days, full of new and exciting moments, and realized that he already had. Olivia excluded, the last week had included some of the best moments of my life. Fitting that we’d create one last memory now, something that I could remember forever. I patted my horse, swallowed hard, and tightened the reins.

We took Harris Trail out of town and up into the foothills, the crisp autumn wind whipping my hair aside and caressing it with the enchanting scent of pine and the Montana wilderness. Then we reached the tree line. I spotted our destination as we drew near. He’d set out a blanket with a bucket of now-melted ice containing a champagne bottle. A few orange leaves had blown across the blanket.

He dismounted and opened the pack. I recognized the contents immediately—sandwiches from Stella’s shop. She would have told him my favorite was the turkey bacon club and likely sent along a few extras just for kicks.

I didn’t know what to say. This must have taken all afternoon to arrange. “I figured you’d be spending the day with Olivia or editing.” I’d managed to keep most of the bitterness from my voice, but not all. Just thinking about that woman and her perfect hair, athletic body, and expensive clothes made me want to puke—preferably all over her pretty boots.

Above all, knowing Tanner once loved her enough to want to marry her, and maybe still did, hurt like a spear through my rib cage.

Tanner dismounted, secured the gelding, and headed around to help me. But he placed a hand on my horse, looking up at me with nothing but earnestness. “I turned the editing over to my assistant. My days here are limited. I can’t waste a single second that I could be spending with you. And Olivia—well, that’s what I wanted to explain if you’ll allow me.” He offered a hand. I didn’t need it to dismount, but the offer combined with his words made me feel like some Regency lady in a ball gown, so I took his hand and swung down. A rock I hadn’t noticed sabotaged my landing, nearly sending me to the ground, but Tanner’s arm swung around my waist and kept me upright. Then we both stood there, my arms on his shoulders and his around my waist and the both of us staring at one another.

We were close enough I should have felt his breath on my face, but there was nothing. He seemed as breathless as I felt.

“Sophie,” he whispered, still holding me tight as if expecting me to run again. “I’m so sorry about Olivia. Truly. Sometimes I wonder what I ever saw in that woman. She hurt me once, and it took me a long time to get over it. But what matters more is that she hurt you, and I can never forgive her for that.”

“So she doesn’t want you back.”

He shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. She’s in the past. You are my present—you and only you.” He swept a piece of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear.

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